Maintain Strong Synergy, Relationship With Host Communities To Defeat Terrorists–CDS

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa has charged field commanders to strengthen inter service synergy and maintain cordial relationship with host communities in order to defeat terrorists and other criminal elements.

He said the trust and support of host communities remained critical to success of internal security operations.

The CDS who stated this during the closing ceremony of the Chief of Defence Staff joint task force commanders conference 2023 said challenges like inadequate manpower, lack of support weapons, gun trucks and drones as well as inadequate tracking equipment and teams to operate them and inadequate personal rifles would be addressed.

He said; “As commanders, it is imperative that we foster a culture of cooperation, collaboration and synergy among our forces. By breaking down barriers, sharing resources and leveraging each other’s strengths, we can maximise our collective impact and achieve our shared objectives.

“Let us bring this spirit of jointness back to our respective task forces and integrate it into our daily operations.”

He called on commanders to build and maintain strong relationships with the communities they serve.

“The trust and support of the local population are critical in our efforts to counter insurgency, terrorism and other security challenges.

“We must continue to engage with community leaders, religious leaders and other stakeholders, listening to their concerns, addressing their grievances and involving them in the decision-making process. By doing so, we can gain valuable insights, foster cooperation and build resilient communities that are actively involved in securing their own futures,” he added.

He also reiterated the need to reform the structure of the various operations and called on commanders to continuously assess and improve on strategies, tactics and capabilities to effectively counter emerging threats.

He stressed the need for innovation and adaptability of the service to emerging threats environment.